For a little period, the storyline for RCB in a home game was all too familiar after the team managed a very frantic start with the bat by the Lucknow Super Giants. The challenge that loomed was whether they could limit the resistance to a figure that could be pursued. For a moment, it appeared as though the answer to that question might come quickly when they gave up 32 runs in their first three overs.
The pitch was a little sticky, not too different from the other surfaces at the location so far this season. It appeared as though they were finally making an impression on what has historically been a challenging field to bowl in when players like Glenn Maxwell and Yash Dayal, with their change of pace, got the ball to stop on the surface.
They had defeated Punjab Kings on this very ground, and their secret to victory there was to smash the deck hard and let the surface’s fluctuating tempo do its magic.
After that first burst in which Quinton de Kock exploited the extra width to release his arms, RCB had changed lanes to the safer track where they could dictate the tempo of play for around five overs.
But just as they were settling into cruise control, they would stray from the path once more.
Cameron Green’s 13th over of the innings had everything that the Royals wouldn’t want from their bowlers on this particular wicket. Green was erring on the broader side, overpitching once and throwing three complete tosses, which was a hint that they had experimented with different lengths before figuring out what worked best for the surface.
The fact that their opponents’ hitters were able to adjust to the surface more quickly than their bowlers did not aid their cause. De Kock would reach his fifty off of thirty-six balls, and the stroke that took him there demonstrated how he had adjusted to the slow pitch. Instead of going squarer, de Kock chose to slam the ball hard down the ground like a forehand after Mayank Dagar had struck a shortish length from where it had been slowing down. In order to go into de Kock’s hitting zone and compel him to go straight down the ground instead of midwicket, where the match-up would often end, Mayank Dagar would be forced to overdo his length on the next delivery. He would end up with eight of his thirteen boundaries in the same area.
Additionally, RCB would pay a price for trying too many wide yorkers, which Nicholas Pooran’s slices put away. Up to seven sixes for LSG came from bowlers who pitched it too full or incorrectly.
KL Rahul, however, disclosed that LSG was taking precautions to avoid making a mistake on that front. At the post-match presentation, he said, “The chat was very simple – there’s a bit help in the wicket, try and use the wicket, not go to the yorkers really quickly.” He then went on to expand on his understanding of the pitch and how to bowl on it, adding, “Here in Chinnaswamy, the pressure can come on you really quickly with one or two fours/sixes in an over, just changes everything.” It’s critical that we maintain our composure and faith that the wicket will assist us.”
The body punches to RCB in the chase came from Mayank Yadav’s now-famous speed, which he could mix with lengths from which the ball would slide on or bounce up. The fact that they were able to outperform a home team on their own field should bode well for LSG, who have now won two straight games, and force RCB to review their tactics and execution at crucial points on their field in an effort to restart their season.
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